Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in New Orleans, LA
Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need in New Orleans for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in New Orleans, LA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is New Orleans East Hospital in New Orleans, about 2.9 mi away in a straight line, followed by St Bernard Parish Hospital (7.6 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 43 certified home health agencies whose service area includes New Orleans. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
New Orleans compared with Louisiana
| Census figure | New Orleans | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 33% | 38% |
| Residents 65 or older | 17% | 17% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 37% | 31% |
| Households with no vehicle | 17% | 8.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 21% | 15% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $41,078 | — |
Older residents in towns around New Orleans
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalmette, LA | 7.8 mi | 2,851 | 47% |
| Arabi, LA | 7.9 mi | 676 | 49% |
| Meraux, LA | 8.8 mi | 877 | 45% |
| Violet, LA | 11 mi | 744 | 52% |
| Terrytown, LA | 12 mi | 2,876 | 29% |
| Gretna, LA | 12 mi | 2,846 | 34% |
Hospitals near New Orleans
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans East Hospital | New Orleans, LA | 2.9 mi | not rated | (504) 592-6600 |
| St Bernard Parish Hospital | Chalmette, LA | 7.6 mi | 4 of 5 | (504) 826-9500 |
| Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System | New Orleans, LA | 11 mi | 3 of 5 | (800) 935-8387 |
| University Medical Center New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 11 mi | 2 of 5 | (504) 702-3000 |
Home health agencies serving New Orleans
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitalcaring Group | Metairie, LA | 15 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (504) 831-1190 |
| Elara Caring | Metairie, LA | 16 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (504) 469-3849 |
| Southeast Louisiana Home Health, LLC | Covington, LA | 32 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (985) 892-8008 |
| Elara Caring | Hammond, LA | 44 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (985) 340-8000 |
| Amedisys Home Health Care | Metairie, LA | 14 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (504) 838-7080 |
| Omni Home Care | Mandeville, LA | 26 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (985) 674-5175 |
Straight-line miles from the center of New Orleans. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
What a post-surgery caregiver can help with
- Help getting in and out of bed, chairs and the shower
- Meals, fluids and medication reminders
- Rides to follow-up and therapy appointments
- Help with home exercises the therapist set
What post-surgery care costs in New Orleans
At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).
Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.
What to know before hiring a post-surgery caregiver
Medicare covers home health care after surgery when a doctor orders it and the person is homebound: part-time skilled nursing and therapy from a Medicare-certified agency. It does not cover round-the-clock help, or personal care when that is the only care needed (Medicare.gov).
Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after this kind of surgery? Are you comfortable with transfers, walkers and shower chairs? Can you start on the discharge date and cover the first nights? More in our post-surgery care guide.
CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.
Post-Surgery Care in New Orleans: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to New Orleans?
New Orleans East Hospital in New Orleans, about 2.9 mi in a straight line from the center of New Orleans (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (504) 592-6600. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve New Orleans?
Medicare lists 43 certified agencies whose service area includes New Orleans ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Vitalcaring Group (5 of 5), Elara Caring (5 of 5), Southeast Louisiana Home Health, LLC (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in New Orleans?
At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).
How long do people usually need help after surgery?
It depends on the operation and the person. After a hip or knee replacement many people need daily help for a few weeks, and more at night in the first days. Ask the surgical team for an estimate and plan with some slack.
More senior care near New Orleans
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Chalmette, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Arabi, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Meraux, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Violet, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Terrytown, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Gretna, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Timberlane, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Harvey, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Eden Isle, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Belle Chasse, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Jefferson, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Metairie, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Bridge City, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Marrero, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Westwego, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Elmwood, LA
Other care in New Orleans
Sources
Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.
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